Rice still sensitive for Japan free trade deal

Including rice in Australia's future free trade agreement with Japan is proving to be a much bigger challenge than the local industry would like.

Japanese rice farmers who met with the Ricegrowers' Association in Canberra last week were adamant rice isn't up for negotiation.

Ruth Wade, the association's executive director, hopes the Australian Government can convince them otherwise.

"From JA Zenchu's perspective, they put on the table very clearly to us they have five very sensitive products including rice, wheat, barley, beef, pork, dairy products, sugar and starch crops, that they will not discuss in any trade agreement," she said.

"We've said clearly to our government they must be on the table for discussion in any trade agreement.

"You cannot sign any multilateral agreement that takes either agriculture as a whole or these five sensitive products off the table."